Dale Gillings

It was Dale who invited me to join him and friends to the Middleton breakfast club which meets once a month at Sopras. We shall miss him but now he is with his wife. We are long time members of the Middleton Community Church so knew Dale and his wife Joan (?") many years. Larry Landgraf.

A note of sympathy to Dave, Mark and Paul Gillings from Alden Gillings a cousin of your father Dale. Thank you Dave for your call yesterday even though it was sad news about your father. The last time I saw Dale was at a family reunion they were having in the Black Hills of South Dakota some time in the 1980s. I grew up close to where your dad grew up, our farms were about two and a half miles apart and we went to the same one room school a mile north of our farm. My first year was in 1936 and the school was all Gillings, me and five of my brothers and three cousins, Carl, Dale and Mable. I have many fond memories of those times long ago. We were so lucky to grow up on a farm. By the way, my first grade teacher, 'Leotta (Konechne) Doering', is still living. She is in a Nursing Home in California. I found that out a few years ago when one of her nephews contacted me after seeing a story I had sent to Country Magazine about a very bad blizzard that year that could have killed everyone at the school. I got a nice Christmas letter from her 2 years ago but not last year. Well I guess I've rattled on enough, that sure is a good picture of your dad. Just the way I remember him. One of your Dakota Gillings family, Alden Gillings

My sincere condolence to Paul,Dave and Mark Gillings and Familys, from a So.Dak. cousin of your father. May peace be with you. Take care Joseph Gillings And Family

Paul, Dave, Mark and families, Words can't really express how truly sorry I am that your dad (my uncle) has passed. You are all in our prayers. Take care.

I am saddened to hear of Uncle Dale's passing. He and my Aunt Joanne raised four loving children -- Paul, Dave, Mark, & Suzie -- my prayers are with their families as they cherish the memories he left them. I remember he would call my mother Mabel "Sis". Dale was away in the service when my mother graduated from high school. Dale sent home money to purchase her graduation gift - a cedar chest I have to this day. I've included an early photograph (1928) of Carl, Mabel Marie, & Dale Gillings. The family portrait shows Earl Richard Gillings & Bertha Lucinda (Dimick) Gillings, their children Carl, Mabel, & Dale (left to right). Rest in Peace.